Ryan Howard, second from left, celebrates with teammates as Jon Singleton (28) walks off the field after Howard's game-winning single during the 15th inning.

Ryan Howard, second from left, celebrates with teammates as Jon Singleton (28) walks off the field after Howard's game-winning single during the 15th inning.

Photo: Matt Slocum / Associated Press

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Astros catcher Jason Castro, left, walks off the field as Ryan Howard celebrates after hitting the game-winning RBI-single.

Astros catcher Jason Castro, left, walks off the field as Ryan Howard celebrates after hitting the game-winning RBI-single.

Photo: Matt Slocum / Associated Press

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Chris Carter catches a long fly ball hit by Cody Asche.

Chris Carter catches a long fly ball hit by Cody Asche.

Photo: Brian Garfinkel / Getty Images

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Dallas Keuchel pitches during the first inning.

Dallas Keuchel pitches during the first inning.

Photo: Matt Slocum / Associated Press

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Ryan Howard hits a home run off Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel.

Ryan Howard hits a home run off Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel.

Photo: Matt Slocum / Associated Press

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Astros center fielder Jake Marisnick cannot reach a home run by Ryan Howard during the second inning.

Astros center fielder Jake Marisnick cannot reach a home run by Ryan Howard during the second inning.

Photo: Matt Slocum / Associated Press

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Kyle Kendrick pitches during the first inning.

Kyle Kendrick pitches during the first inning.

Photo: Matt Slocum / Associated Press

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Robbie Grossman, right, is tagged out by Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins after trying to steal second.

Robbie Grossman, right, is tagged out by Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins after trying to steal second.

Photo: Matt Slocum / Associated Press

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Carter exemplifies how patience pays off at the plate

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PHILADELPHIA — Chris Carter is an example of patience rewarded.

After play on July 1, the Astros designated hitter was hitting .181. In 25 games since (through Tuesday), he’s hitting .302 with a .364 on-base percentage, .656 slugging percentage and nine home runs.

As is most often the case, Carter was never quite as bad as his stats indicated through the first three months of the season. By the same token, he may well not keep up his current pace through the final two months.

But the Astros easily could have grown frustrated with Carter and decided it was time to move on. There was one flaw with that somewhat reactionary thinking, however, and the front office knew it all along: there was never anybody better to replace him. The 27-year-old’s power is very rare throughout the majors, never mind at Class AAA. He’s a valuable commodity.

So the Astros gave Carter time instead, and they’ve been rewarded.

“I’m so proud of Chris because he’s worked his butt off,” hitting coach John Mallee said. “This guy, he has a strict routine that he does every day. It’s really himself coming out. He’s hitting early all the time, every day he hits early and he’s working on being short and direct to the ball. He’s watching opposing pitchers, he’s got a good plan going into the box.

“This is an adjustment when you get to the big leagues. Everybody’s looking at everybody. And these are a bunch of kids, and it takes time. And you can’t give up on a guy like this because of the power potential. The pitch recognition, the strike zone discipline — all the things that equate to being a good hitter, he has those attributes.”

Carter isn’t the type of player who loves talking about his own success, but he points to his ability to be better selective as a key to his turn around.

“You’re as good as the pitch you swing at,” Mallee said.

He’s also doing more with the strikes he goes after, speaking to a more direct swing that Mallee pointed to.

On the season, Carter’s made contact on 83.3 percent of strike he’s swung at, according to FanGraphs. On the season as a whole, including that successful July, he’s made contact on 78.1 percent of strikes.

Carter received votes for Player of the Month in July, an award that went to Jose Abreu of the White Sox in the American League.

He’s not the only Astros hitter who has picked it up of late. Catcher Jason Castro sat out of Wednesday’s starting lineup because he caught all 15 innings in the Astros’ 2-1 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday. He has a .273 average, and .477 slugging percentage in 21 games in July and August, a significant uptick. His OBP in that time is oddly low, though, at .289. He has four home runs, 23 strikeouts and two walks in that span.

“Path has gotten shorter, he’s been working real hard on that,” Mallee said. “I think the two-spot has helped a little bit. I don’t know how he feels, but ever since he’s been in the two-spot, he seems to be doing better.”

There are still other hitters needing to get going. Third baseman Matt Dominguez entered Wednesday with a .191 average in 17 second-half games. His OPS since the start of July is .507.

Mallee thinks Dominguez has started to press some.

“It’s chasing out of the zone and not staying within the strike zone,” Mallee said. “You get antsy and you start to expand early in the count. And for him, he doesn’t swing and miss a lot. So he puts a lot of balls in play. But if they’re not strikes and you put ’em in play, the probability of the exit velocity and getting hits is downs. So it’s getting him more … to be a little more selective.”